Position: striker or midfielder.

Lincoln City career: 6+(2) appearances and 2 goals between October 2002 - May 2003.

Clubs: Lancaster City, Birmingham City, Forest Green, Southport, Barrow, Leigh RMI, Lincoln City, Northwich Victoria, Bamber Bridge, Kendal Town, Mossley, Clitheroe and Chorley.

Former Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander appeared to have pulled off a transfer coup in October 2002 to secure Chris Ward, who just 18 months prior, was classed as the most promising player in non-league football.

Ward was another of Keith Alexander's acquisitions from non-league football, and he was predicted to be the bargain of the season as he was a prolific non-league goalscorer.

During the 2000/01 season, he scored 43 goals for Lancaster City, despite transferring to Birmingham City in a £25,000 move, in April 2001. He had been previously recommended to Lincoln City in early 2001, prior to his transfer to Birmingham.

Birmingham's then manager Trevor Francis moved quickly for Ward after learning that Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam had taken a keen interest. Ward showed no signs of being overawed at Birmingham and immediately scored two goals in two reserve games. Unfortunately, Ward suffered a bad injury at Birmingham, which signalled an end to his time there.

After recovering his fitness, he was unable to break into the Birmingham first team, so accepted loan spells at both Forest Green Rovers and Southport. He was released by Birmingham in August 2002 and joined Barrow, where he stayed for a few weeks before signing for Leigh RMI.

Ward, after five appearances for Leigh, returned to professional football when Lincoln City signed him on a free transfer in October 2002. However, he failed to gain a proper run in The Imps' first team and in May 2003, he was a shock departure from Sincil Bank when he was given a free transfer.

He was not long out of football as quickly signed for Northwich Victoria for the 2003-04 season. That would prove to be his only season at Northwich as he transferred nearer his Preston home by signing for Bamber Bridge in 2004.

Now semi-professional, Ward trained to be a teacher which limited his football career. He had moves to Kendal Town, Mossley before joining Clitheroe after a spending the 2007-08 season not playing.

In November 2008, Ward was reunited with his former Lancaster City manager Tony Hesketh when Ward signed for Chorley.

Please click the links to view cheap merchandise for Birmingham City or Lincoln City football club.

Position: central defence or minfield.

Lincoln City career: 16+(3) appearances and 1 goal between June 2000 - May 2002.

Clubs: Gainsborough, Huddersfield, Plymouth, Scunthorpe and Lincoln City.

Richard Logan sums up the bad luck that ex-Lincoln City manager Phil Stant experienced at Sincil Bank. Logan was a big signing from Scunthorpe United in July 2000, and was intended to be the inspiration for a promotion push. Unfortunately, he sustained a back injury which limited his first team appearances to just six during the 2000/01 season.

Ironically, Logan was the type of player who Lincoln required to bolster their midfield for he was a tough tackler plus a throw-in and free-kick specialist.

He began his career at Gainsborough Trinity in August 1992, and within fifteen months, he was spotted by Huddersfield Town who offered him the opportunity of professional football. Although considered a regular first team player, he left Huddersfield in under two years to join Plymouth Argyle in a £20,000 deal.

Logan scored twenty goals in three years at Plymouth but it was at Scunthorpe where he made the biggest impression of his career. He was able to play equally as well in central defence as midfield, so became an influential figure in Scunthorpe's side. When his contract expired in June 2000, they were understandably disappointed to lose him; disappointment that was doubled when their fans learnt that he had signed for Lincoln.

Possibly Scunthorpe's fans had last laugh as Logan became more of an embarrassment than an asset. He briefly featured in the 2002/03 campaign before suffering yet another injury. Afterwards, he was loaned to Gainsborough Trinity to regain match fitness but instead, he suffered a relapse. His contract at Lincoln City FC was terminated in May 2003.

Please click the links to view cheap merchandise for Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Plymouth Argyle or Scunthorpe United football club.

Position: striker.

Lincoln City career: 1+(2) appearances between May 2005 - January 2007.

Clubs: Mansfield Town, Hucknall Town. Lincoln City, Hednesford Town and Worksop Town.

Danny Bacon agreed a one-year contract with The Imps in May 2005, thereby dashing the hopes of Mansfield Town, who had been hopeful of recapturing their former player.

In July 2003, Bacon opted to drop into the non-league circuit by signing for Hucknall Town, who now play in the Conference North Division.

At the time, it was widely reported that Hucknall - who were desperate to secure a place in the new Conference North Division - were paying Bacon more money than Mansfield had offered him. Similarly, Mansfield offered him a deal in May 2005, which would have seen him take a pay cut. He initially favoured Mansfield's offer, as he was keen to return to professional football. However, he later rejected the transfer citing that Mansfield's offer was not good enough.

Bacon, speaking of his reasons for rejecting Mansfield, confirmed: "I am on more money at Hucknall and I have had other offers from elsewhere for more. What Mansfield are offering me is just not enough."

A product of Mansfield's youth system, he made 18 starts for Mansfield plus a further 38 substitute appearances, scoring 5 goals. Injuries prevented him from gaining a prolonged run in Mansfield's first team, and he feels that Mansfield's supporters failed to see the best of him.

He scored 11 goals in the Conference North during the 2004/05 season plus many others in the various competitions that Hucknall featured in. Hucknall's success in the FA Trophy final saw them reach this year's final, but they lost on penalties to Grays Athletic, who included ex-Imp Tony Battersby in their side.

After the final, Mansfield boss Carlton Palmer praised Bacon by saying: "I went to watch Danny on Sunday and was impressed. I didn't realise just how quick he is."

He arrived at Sincil Bank on a free transfer, as his contract at Hucknall had expired. So far he has made just two substitute appearances for Lincoln City FC, and was loaned to Burton in September 2005 to gain match fitness. Ironically, he sustained a broken leg at Burton and was unable to play for Lincoln City FC's first team before the end of the season although he did play several reserve matches.

Bacon's return to fitness was rewarded by Lincoln City FC who extended his contract by a further year, which ties him to Sincil Bank until June 2007. However, despite starting the first game of the 2006/07 season, he sustained another injury, and was released in January 2007 by mutual consent.

In January 2007, Bacon joined Hednesford Town but stayed for less than six months before rejoining Hucknall Town. Bacon was once again a popular player and was subject to a transfer bid in January 2009 from an unnamed club; however, Bacon rejected the move. instead, he left Hucknall under freedom of contract to sign for Worksop Town in July 2009.

Please click the links to view cheap merchandise for Lincoln City or Mansfield Town football club.